Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Saco vs Scarborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunk has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Saco | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
1,379Lowest |
20,819 |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17kLowest 39% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 25% above ME |
— | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 65% above ME |
$4,473Lowest 47% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Saco Public Schools | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | None in town | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.